Meet Your Neighbor: Karen Rhodes
This profile is part of Bernal Connect’s “Meet Your Neighbor” series, where we introduce you to the people who make our community special.
Walking the Talk: How One Neighbor is Greening Bernal Heights
Karen Rhodes has called Bernal Heights home since 1988. At 71, she’s transforming neighborhood stairways into community gardens and advocating for walkable streets across San Francisco.
From UC Berkeley to Bernal’s Public Stairways
When Karen retired in 2017 after decades at UC Berkeley, she didn’t ease into a quieter life. Instead, she dove deeper into her passion for making San Francisco more walkable, beautiful, and connected.
“After retirement, I decided to focus on getting more involved in San Francisco,” Karen explains. “I noticed the numerous open spaces in Bernal, particularly the concentration of public stairways, and recognized opportunities for neighborhood beautification and greening.”
A Longtime Resident Who Embraces Change
Karen first moved to Bernal Heights near Holly Park after graduating from UC Santa Cruz. Over nearly four decades, she’s watched the neighborhood evolve while putting down roots in her micro-community near Precita Park.
What drew her to San Francisco was the city’s vibrant neighborhoods and easy access to transit and amenities. “I’ve never been attached to a neighborhood staying the same,” she reflects, embracing the dynamic nature of urban life. When she and her husband arrived, Bernal had a reputation for being “a bit sketchy,” but change was already underway.
Karen got involved through a local block club that distributed newsletters to promote community connections. She participated in habitat restoration classes around Bernal Hill, where volunteers cleared non-native plants and reintroduced native species. The Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center also played a key role in supporting Cortland businesses and bringing neighbors together.
Transforming the Tompkins Stairway
Karen’s most visible contribution came through the Tompkins Stairway Garden, a Greening Projects project. After connecting with neighbor Vicky Rideout and others in 2017, she spent two and a half years planning, fundraising, and writing grants. The garden opened in June 2019, transforming a neglected public stairway into a thriving green space.
The project captures Karen’s approach to neighborhood improvement: spotting underutilized public spaces and rallying neighbors to reimagine them. In Bernal Heights, with its hills and network of stairways, the possibilities are everywhere.
Making San Francisco More Walkable
Karen’s work extends far beyond Bernal. She serves on the boards of Walk San Francisco and the Bay Area Ridge Trail, advocating for pedestrian safety and helping develop a continuous trail network across the region. Since 2018, she’s been involved with the San Francisco Crosstown Trail, designing urban hiking routes and organizing guided outings. The group’s latest creation is the 38-mile Roundabout, which some ambitious walkers tackle in a single day.
Through stairway gardens, advocacy, and trail building, Karen Rhodes demonstrates what one dedicated neighbor can accomplish when they roll up their sleeves and get involved.
Want to nominate a neighbor for our “Meet Your Neighbor” series? Contact Bernal Connect at info@bernalconnect.com.
Tompkins Stairway Garden Work Day
Mike Doherty serves as Chief Experience Officer at Greening Projects, a nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming underutilized urban spaces into vibrant green areas
